Defence response produced during photodynamic damage in transgenic rice overexpressing 5-aminolevulinic acid synthase

S. Jung, K. Back, K. Yang, Y. I. Kuk, S. U. Chon

Photosynthetica 2008, 46(1):3-9 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-008-0002-3  

Photodynamic and photoprotective responses at different irradiances were investigated in transgenic rice (Oryza sativa) expressing Bradyrhizobium japonicum 5-aminolevulinic acid synthase (ALA-S). With high irradiance (HI) of 350 µmol m^-2 s^-1, transgenic lines P5 and P14 showed a decrease in contents of chlorophyll (Chl) and the chloroplast-encoded gene psbA mRNA, whereas a decrease in light-harvesting Chl-binding proteins was observed only in P14. These effects were not observed in the wild-type (WT) line treated with HI or all of the lines treated with low irradiance (LI) of 150 µmol m^-2...

Induction of cyclic electron flow around photosystem 1 and state transition are correlated with salt tolerance in soybean

K. X. Lu, Y. Yang, Y. He, D. A. Jiang

Photosynthetica 2008, 46(1):10 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-008-0003-2  

We investigated the role of cyclic electron flow around photosystem 1 (CEF1) and state transition (ST) in two soybean cultivars that differed in salt tolerance. The CEF1 and maximum photochemical efficiency (F_v/F_m) were determined under control and NaCl (50 mM) stress and the NaCl-induced light-harvesting complex 2 (LHC2) phosphorylation in vitro was analysed in light and dark. NaCl induced the increase of CEF1 more greatly in wild soybean Glycine cyrtoloba (cv. ACC547) than in cultivated soybean Glycine max (cv. Melrose). The F_v/F_m was reduced less in G. cyrtoloba than in G....

Effects of irradiance on growth, photosynthetic characteristics, and artemisinin content of Artemisia annua L.

M. L. Wang, Y. S. Jiang, J. Q. Wei, X. Wei, X. X. Qi, S. Y. Jiang, Z. M. Wang

Photosynthetica 2008, 46(1):17 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-008-0004-1  

With an increase in growth irradiance (from 15 to 100 % of full sunlight, I₁₅ to I₁₀₀), the maximum net photosynthetic rate (P _max), compensation (CI) and saturation irradiances of A. annua increased. At full sunlight, A. annua had a high capacity of photosynthesis, while at low irradiance it maintained a relatively high P _max with a low CI. The height and diameter growth, total and leaf biomass, and artemisinin content of A. annua decreased with the decrease in irradiance, which might be connected with lower photosynthesis at lower than at higher irradiance. Irradiances...

Alterations in photosynthesis and antioxidant enzyme activity in winter wheat subjected to post-anthesis water-logging

W. Tan, J. Liu, T. Dai, Q. Jing, W. Cao, D. Jiang

Photosynthetica 2008, 46(1):21-27 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-008-0005-0  

Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars Yangmai 9 (water-logging tolerant) and Yumai 34 (water-logging sensitive) were subjected to water-logging (WL) from 7 d after anthesis to determine the responses of photosynthesis and anti-oxidative enzyme activities in flag leaf. At 15 d after treatment (DAT), net photosynthetic rate under WL was only 3.7 and 8.9 µmol(CO₂) m^-2 s^-1 in Yumai 34 and Yangmai 9, respectively, which was much lower than in the control. Ratios of variable to maximum and variable to initial fluorescence, actual photosynthetic efficiency, and photochemical quenching were much lower,...

Compensatory acclimated mechanisms of photoprotection in a Xa mutant of Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.

Y. J. Wang, X. J. Xia, Y. H. Zhou, J. Q. Yu

Photosynthetica 2008, 46(1):28 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-008-0006-z  

To probe the role of xanthophylls in non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) and the compensatory acclimated photoprotection mechanisms, a tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Ailsa Craig) Xa mutant with deficit in lutein (L) and neoxanthin (N) contents was used. The Xa mutant showed lowered NPQ, an increased degree of de-epoxidation state [(A+Z)/(V+A+Z)], and decreases of photosystem 2 (PS2) antenna size. Although the Xa mutant had a CO₂ assimilation rate similar to that of Ailsa Craig, it exhibited a much larger stomatal conductance (g _s) than Ailsa Craig. Decreased electron flux in PS2 (J...

Photosystem 2 photochemistry and pigment composition of a yellow mutant of rice (Oryza sativa L.) under different irradiances

Q. Chen, L. F. Wang, N. Su, H. D. Qin, H. B. Niu, J. L. Wang, H. Q. Zhai, J. M. Wan

Photosynthetica 2008, 46(1):35-39 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-008-0007-y  

A yellow leaf colouration mutant (named ycm) generated from rice T-DNA insertion lines was identified with less grana lamellae and low thylakoid membrane protein contents. At weak irradiance [50 µmol(photon) m^-2 s^-1], chlorophyll (Chl) contents of ycm were ≈20 % of those of WT and Chl a/b ratios were 3-fold that of wild type (WT). The leaf of ycm showed lower values in the actual photosystem 2 (PS2) efficiency (Φ_PS2), photochemical quenching (q_P), and the efficiency of excitation capture by open PS2 centres 1 (F_v'/F_m') than those of WT, except...

Effects of water stress and nitrogen supply on leaf gas exchange and fluorescence parameters of Sophora davidii seedlings

F. Z. Wu, W. K. Bao, F. L. Li, N. Wu

Photosynthetica 2008, 46(1):40-48 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-008-0008-x  

Two-month-old seedlings of Sophora davidii were subjected to a randomized complete block design with three water (80, 40, and 20 % of water field capacity, i.e. FC₈₀, FC₄₀, and FC₂₀) and three N supply [N0: 0, Nl: 92 and Nh: 184 mg(N) kg^-1(soil)] regimes. Water stress produced decreased leaf area (LA) and photosynthetic pigment contents, inhibited photosynthetic efficiency, and induced photodamage in photosystem 2 (PS2), but increased specific leaf area (SLA). The decreased net photosynthetic rate (P _N) under medium water stress (FC₄₀) compared to control (FC₈₀)...

Cadmium and zinc induced chlorosis in Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern] involves preferential loss of chlorophyll b

S. Ebbs, S. Uchil

Photosynthetica 2008, 46(1):49-55 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-008-0010-3  

Plants of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) were treated with either 50 µM Cd, 250 µM Zn, or 25 µM Cd+125 µM Zn and the progression of chlorosis in the mature leaves monitored. As relative chlorophyll (Chl) contents in the mature leaves decreased to 75, 50, and 25 % relative to controls, both mature and young leaves were harvested and the Chl pools extracted. The metal treatments caused a greater loss of Chl b than Chl a. As mature leaves underwent progressive chlorosis, the young leaves displayed a characteristic over-greening, due largely to increased content of Chl b. However, as the young leaves...

Carbon fixation and carbonic anhydrase activity in Haslea ostrearia (Bacillariophyceae) in relation to growth irradiance

M. Rech, A. Morant-Manceau, G. Tremblin

Photosynthetica 2008, 46(1):56-62 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-008-0011-2  

The metabolic pathway of primary carbon fixation was studied in a peculiar pennate marine diatom, Haslea ostrearia (Bory) Simonsen, which synthesizes and accumulates a blue pigment known as "marennine". Cells were cultured in a semi-continuous mode under saturating [350 µmol(photon) m^-2 s^-1] or non-saturating [25 µmol(photon) m^-2 s^-1] irradiance producing "blue" (BC) and "green" (GC) cells, characterized by high and low marennine accumulation, respectively. Growth, pigment contents (chlorophyll a and marennine), ¹⁴C accumulation in the metabolites, and the carbonic anhydrase...

Differences in photosynthetic apparatus of leaves from different sides of the chestnut canopy

J. Gomes-Laranjo, J. P. Coutinho, V. Galhano, J. V. Ferreira-Cardoso

Photosynthetica 2008, 46(1):63 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-008-0012-1  

In crowns of chestnut trees the absorption of radiant energy is not homogeneous; leaves from the south (S) side are the most irradiated, but leaves from the east (E) and west (W) sides receive around 70 % and those from north (N) face less than 20 % of the S irradiation. Compared to the S leaves, those from the N side were 10 % smaller, their stomata density was 14 % smaller, and their laminae were 21 % thinner. N leaves had 0.63 g(Chl) m^-2, corresponding to 93 % of total chlorophyll (Chl) amount in leaves of S side. The ratios of Chl a/b were 2.9 and 3.1 and of Chl/carotenoids (Car) 5.2 and 4.8, respectively, in N and S leaves. Net...

Mutation mechanism of chlorophyll-less barley mutant NYB

Z. L. Liu, S. Yuan, W. J. Liu, J. B. Du, W. J. Tian, M. H. Luo, H. H. Lin

Photosynthetica 2008, 46(1):73-78 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-008-0013-0  

NYB is chlorophyll-less barley mutant, which is controlled by a recessive nuclear gene. The mutation mechanism is revealed. The activities of enzymes transforming 5-aminolevulinic acid into protochlorophyllide were the same in both NYB and the wild type (WT), but the activity of the protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase (POR) in WT was much higher than that of NYB. Most of the photosystem 2 apoproteins were present in both WT and NYB, suggesting that the capability of protein synthesis was probably fully preserved in the mutant. Thus chlorophyll (Chl) biosynthesis in NYB was hampered at conversion form protochlorophyllide...

Temporal characteristics of chlorophyll fluorescence quenching and dissolved oxygen concentration as indicators of photosynthetic activity in Chlorella emersonii

N. E. El Khachia, E. O'Mongain, A. Collins

Photosynthetica 2008, 46(1):79-83 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-008-0014-z  

A simple chlorophyll fluorescence (CF) measuring system has been implemented to study temporal characteristics of chlorophyll fluorescence induction (CFI) in dark-adapted freshwater algal cultures of Chlorella emersonii. There were two different decay time constants describing the CF quenching: τ₀ (the faster) and τ₁ (the slower) with amplitudes A₀ and A₁, respectively. The relative amplitude of the faster quenching component decreased once the sample was subject to deprivation from dissolved oxygen (DO). The DO concentration of samples was monitored to validate the effects of deprivation from...

Components of CO₂ exchange in leaves of C₃ species with different ability of starch accumulation

H. Ivanova, H. Keerberg, T. Pärnik, O. Keerberg

Photosynthetica 2008, 46(1):84-90 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-008-0015-y  

Using a radiogasometric method the rates of photorespiratory and respiratory decarboxylations of primary and stored photosynthates in the leaves of two groups of C₃ species, differing in the ability of starch accumulation, were determined. One group included starch-accumulating (SA) species with rates of starch synthesis on the average 38 % the rate of photosynthesis [Solanum tuberosum L., Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh, Helianthus annuus L., and Plantago lanceolata L.]. The second group represented starch-deficient (SD) species with rates of starch synthesis less than 8 % the rate of photosynthesis (Secale...

Source-to-sink relationship between green leaves and green petals of different ages of the CAM orchid Dendrobium cv. Burana Jade

J. He, W. L. Woon

Photosynthetica 2008, 46(1):91 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-008-0016-x  

Photosynthetic capacities of green leaves (GL) and green flower petals (GFP) of different ages of the CAM plant Dendrobium cv. Burana Jade were studied through chlorophyll (Chl) content, Chl fluorescence characteristic F_v/F_m, maximal photosynthetic O₂ evolution rates (P _max), and CAM acidities [dawn/dusk fluctuations in titratable acidity (TA)]. All these photosynthetic parameters were higher in GL than in GFP. Among the different ages of GFP, the young GFP had significant higher readings of all photosynthetic parameters than the oldest GFP, indicating that reduced photosynthesis occurred in...

Ultraviolet-B radiation (280-315 nm) invoked antioxidant defence systems in Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. and Crotalaria juncea L.

V. Selvakumar

Photosynthetica 2008, 46(1):98-106 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-008-0017-9  

A crop legume Vigna unguiculata L. (Walp.) and a wild legume Crotalaria juncea L. were evaluated for their relative responses to the oxidative stress injury induced by various doses of UV-B radiation (UV-B, 280-315 nm; 0, 1.0, 1.4, 4.7, and 6.0 kJ m^-2 d^-1). A dose-dependent damage in lipid peroxidation was determined as an index of membrane injury caused by UV-B. The impact was significantly higher in V. unguiculata than in C. juncea. The specific activities of superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, and dehydroascorbate reductase increased directly proportional to...

Comparison of effects of salt and alkali stresses on the growth and photosynthesis of wheat

C. W. Yang, P. Wang, C. Y. Li, D. C. Shi, D. L. Wang

Photosynthetica 2008, 46(1):107-114 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-008-0018-8  

The seedlings of wheat were treated by salt-stress (SS, molar ratio of NaCl: Na₂SO₄ = 1: 1) and alkali-stress (AS, molar ratio of NaHCO₃: Na₂CO₃ = 1: 1). Relative growth rate (RGR), leaf area, and water content decreased with increasing salinity, and the extents of the reduction under AS were greater than those under SS. The contents of photosynthetic pigments did not decrease under SS, but increased at low salinity. On the contrary, the contents of photosynthetic pigments decreased sharply under AS with increasing salinity. Under SS, the changes of net photosynthetic rate (P _N),...

Universal chlorophyll equations for estimating chlorophylls a, b, c, and d and total chlorophylls in natural assemblages of photosynthetic organisms using acetone, methanol, or ethanol solvents

R. J. Ritchie

Photosynthetica 2008, 46(1):115-126 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-008-0019-7  

A universal set of equations for determining chlorophyll (Chl) a, accessory Chl b, c, and d, and total Chl have been developed for 90 % acetone, 100 % methanol, and ethanol solvents suitable for estimating Chl in extracts from natural assemblages of algae. The presence of phaeophytin (Ph) a not only interferes with estimates of Chl a but also with Chl b and c determinations. The universal algorithms can hence be misleading if used on natural collections containing large amounts of Ph. The methanol algorithms are severely affected by the presence of Ph and so are not recommended. The algorithms were tested...

Partitioning of photosynthetic electron flow between CO₂ assimilation and O₂ reduction in sunflower plants under water deficit

W. Tezara, S. Driscoll, D. W. Lawlor

Photosynthetica 2008, 46(1):127 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-008-0020-1  

In sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) grown under controlled conditions and subjected to drought by withholding watering, net photosynthetic rate (P _N) and stomatal conductance (g _s) of attached leaves decreased as leaf water potential (Ψ_w) declined from -0.3 to -2.9 MPa. Although g _s decreased over the whole range of Ψ_w, nearly constant values in the intercellular CO₂ concentrations (C _i) were observed as Ψ_w decreased to -1.8 MPa, but C _i increased as Ψ_w decreased further. Relative quantum...

Growth and photosynthetic and biochemical responses of tea cultivars to blister blight infection

R. Premkumar, P. Ponmurugan, S. Manian

Photosynthetica 2008, 46(1):135-138 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-008-0021-0  

Growth characteristics such as leaf area, fresh and dry mass, and shoot length, and physiological parameters such as photosynthetic and transpiration rates, stomatal conductance, and water use efficiency were reduced by blister blight significantly more in a susceptible tea clone TES-34 than in a tolerant clone SA-6. Also the contents of total sugars, nitrogen, amino acids, proteins, polyphenols, and catechin were reduced more in diseased plant leaves. However, the reduction was more prominent in susceptible than in tolerant clone. Among the different hybrids of tea, Assam hybrid UPASI-3 was highly susceptible to blister blight followed by Cambod UPASI-27...

Influence of insect-infested cotyledons on early seedling growth of Mongolian oak, Quercus mongolica

X. F. Yi, Z. B. Zhang

Photosynthetica 2008, 46(1):139-142 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-008-0022-z  

Insect-infested (II) acorns germinated 3 d earlier than the healthy (H) ones. However, germination ratio of II-acorns was strongly decreased compared with H-acorns and there were great differences in activities of amylase. We found an apparently lower net photosynthetic rate and total chlorophyll contents of the first true leaf of II-acorns than of the H-ones. Maximal photochemical efficiency of photosystem 2 (PS2, F_v/F_m) decreased in seedlings germinated from II-acorns than from the H-ones. Infestation of insects, especially for weevil (Curculio spp.) had significantly negative effects on length of taproots, height of...

Specific leaf area, leaf nitrogen content, and photosynthetic acclimation of Trifolium repens L. seedlings grown at different irradiances and nitrogen concentrations

H. An, Z. P. Shangguan

Photosynthetica 2008, 46(1):143 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-008-0023-y  

Clover seedlings were grown at different nitrogen concentrations (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 mM NO₃ ^-, i.e. N₅ to N₂₅) and two irradiances, I (200 and 400 µmol m^-2 s^-1 of photon flux density, i.e. I ₂₀₀ and I ₄₀₀). Net photosynthetic rate (P _N), photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE), leaf chlorophyll (Chl) content, maximum photochemical efficiency (F_v/F_m), and actual photochemical efficiency of photosystem 2 (PS2) (Φ_PS2) increased from N₅ to N₁₅ and decreased...

Oxygen evolution rate of rice cultivars

M. A. Bacarin, A. R. Falqueto, J. L. Meirelles Coimbra, A. C. De Oliveira, A. M. De Magalhães Jr.

Photosynthetica 2008, 46(1):148-150 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-008-0024-x  

Under natural conditions we found a significant variation in oxygen evolution rate (OER) in flag leaves of different rice genotypes during the grain filling stage. Cv. Roxinho showed the highest OER [42 µmol(O₂) m^-2 s^-1], followed by BRS Taim, BRS Pelota, BRS Bojuru, IR58025B, BRS 6 Chui, and BR-IRGA 409, with 37.0, 34.0, 33.0, 31.8, 29.0, 28.0, and 27.6 µmol(O₂) m^-2 s^-1, respectively. The lack of fertility in the male-sterile rice line IR58025A prolonged the photosynthetic capacity by at least 15 d when compared to the normal fertility found in the IR58025B line. No difference...

Photosynthetic water use efficiency in tree crowns of Shorea beccariana and Dryobalanops aromatica in a tropical rain forest in Sarawak, East Malaysia

Y. Kitahashi, T. Ichie, Y. Maruyama, T. Kenzo, S. Kitaoka, S. Matsuki, L. Chong, T. Nakashizuka, T. Koike

Photosynthetica 2008, 46(1):151-155 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-008-0025-9  

Photosynthetic water use efficiency (PWUE), stomatal conductance (g _s), and water potential were measured at two different positions in the tree crown of two emergent tropical tree species (Shorea beccariana Burck, Dryobalanops aromatica Gaertn. f.). The trees were about 50 m high, in a tropical rain forest in Sarawak, East Malaysia. In both species, g _s at the upper crown position at midday was lower than at the lower crown position, even though both positions were exposed to full sunlight; the difference was greater in S. beccariana. Hydraulic limitation occurs in the upper crown position in...

Crassulacean acid metabolism in the epiphytic fern Patycerium bifurcatum

G. Rut, J. Krupa, Z. Miszalski, A. Rzepka, I. Ślesak

Photosynthetica 2008, 46(1):156 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-008-0026-8  

The epiphytic fern Platycerium bifurcatum grows in different habitats characterized by drought and high irradiance stress. The plant shows diurnal malate oscillations, indicative for CAM expression only in cover leaves, but not in sporotrophophyll. In P. bifurcatum cover leaves exposed to high irradiance and desiccation, the decrease in both CO₂ assimilation (P _N) and stomatal conductance (g _s) was accompanied with occurrence of diurnal malate oscillations. Exogenously applied abscisic acid (ABA) induced the decrease in P _N and g _s, but no clear change...

Prof. Dr. Hemming Virgin

C. Sundqvist, L. O. Björn

Photosynthetica 2008, 46(1):1-2 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-008-0001-4  

Leaf shape and its relationship with Leaf Area Index in a sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) cultivar

J. T. Tsialtas, N. Maslaris

Photosynthetica 2008, 46(1):48 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-008-0009-9